The Pioneer replaces a cheapSony Blu Ray that stopped working after a few years, and also a 17 year old Pioneer Elite SACD/DVD player that is connected to an aging Pioneer Elite AVR via an “I-link”
which as a proprietary FireWire connection (this is my basement system. My main listening system is 2 channel, and the living room system is also AVR based, but a 1 year old Anthem with room correction. Eventually I will update the AVR in the basement when Anthem updates their HDMI standard).
It is there’s hard to make a definitive judgement on the quality of the new Pioneer BRP, since I am comparing it to the sound of the deceased Sony BRP (HDMI), and the old Pioneer Elite player player which I have left in the system but which is connected by FireWire.
And finally there is the limitation of the old Pioneer AVR itself.
All of this is a long winded prelude to comparing players. The new player compared to the Sony BRP adds some oomph to the midrange and the bass. The bass is grounded and a definite texture
to low notes that were previously MIA. . The main difference compared with the old player connected by FW is that the old player sounded notably congested at Orchestral climaxes and the new player eliminates that and provides headroom. There may be differences in mid range and treble but less noticeably so.
I briefly played the unit in my two channel system. Here the player was matched up against my Bryston DAC3/Oppo 105 combination (the Bryston DAC3 has HDMI inputs that accept DSD from the Oppo). The Pioneer can’t output the DSD as the Oppo can (or if it can, I couldn’t figure out how), so I can’t say the Pioneer fared particularly well in that comparison, but it was smooth and listenable.
I don’t know if any of the above is helpful. The Sony BRP that denied cost about $75 and lasted about 3 years. It’s predecessor was a similar cheapo Sony that died after about 5 years. I am hoping that the Pioneer which costs a grand will be more durable.
